Fight-or-Flight

This is an evolved survival mechanism - our inner-self protecting us. It energizes
us to take action: either slowly, if the threat is in the future or in an instant if the
threat is imminent. This energy helps us to deal with the situation or to avoid it -
to stand and fight or to run from it.

This response is the cause of all the anxiety and panic symptoms that we feel.

Fight-or-flight symptoms:-

* Our breathing becomes more rapid to get more oxygen for these muscles into the
   blood.
* Our heartbeat speeds up to get the blood to the muscles quicker.
* Blood is diverted from the brain (making us light-headed and dizzy) and the
   stomach (causing 'butterflies').
* Energy cannot be wasted processing any half-digested food in our system so we
   need to get rid of it quickly - either through the mouth (feelings of nausea) or the
   other end (wanting to go to the toilet).
* Other 'energy-wasting ' systems (unnecessary in time of danger) are shut down
   eg. saliva production, giving us a dry mouth and difficulty swallowing.
* We sweat more to cool down all this energy production.
* The energy boost to the muscles makes them 'jumpy' / 'jittery' / 'jelly-like' / on
   edge ready for action.